Finally back home from Kiev but sadly not from Chernobyl. The Kiev part is still taking place as JRadier, DYflyer, Nighthawk and RJdxer are probably still enjoying Ukraine.
I don't know which number Dan called or what he tried to do about the Chernobyl trip, but I found one number at the web, we called it from Ukraine on Thursday and we got answered, even in English! The trouble is that the agency needs to get you some permit which takes time, so they were unable to organize tour for us in a weeks time.

So we say: lets go next time! This time we can make it a short over-weekend stay with one day trip to Chernobyl!

Instead of the real site we visited the Chernobyl museum. We also did plenty of walking and of course visited the Zhulyani State Aviation Museum which was a haven for aicraft lover.

Well I don't know about the rest but I am surely short a few brain cells and others are probably permantely deformed, but all for a good cause!

Left Thursday from IAH. Due to heavy loads, I had to jumpseat from IAH to BNA. Then jumpseat again from BNA to EWR. We landed on Runway 4 in EWR and that was a real thrill. Complicated approach and a short runway with a heavily loaded airplane. What Fun!! Then EWR to MXP on a CO764. I always love seeing the sun come up over the ocean.

Final approach to MXP.

ATMXP it looked as if my luck were about to run out as the transfer agent for Alitalia told me "Sorry, looking very very bad, plane is overfull". As I said in the other thread, sometimes those jumpseat privileges come in handy as they did here. Asked for and got the cockpit jumpseat but as I boarded the aircraft the steward said a seat in the forward cabin had become available and the cpt would like me to sit there. Any seat on the plane is ok with me. Don't get to see this sign everyday at U.S. airports.

Then it was on to Kiev....

Just beyond the YAK42 is the arrivals section, to the left of the curved departure hall. DO NOT follow the instruction printed on the immigration form. Fill out all the lines, even if you have no idea what your outbound flight is. Failure to do so earns you a dirty look and a brush aside to do things correctly. Also got to see the Ukrainian immigration police at work as they appeared out of nowhere, stuck a machine gun in some poor fools back, and with police dog growling at him, marched him off to a fate unkown.

And on to the tourist hotel. Reminders of the old soviet way were everywhere from the decorations that survived to the women who staffed the floors handing out keys.

And the whole group was finally together, Gavin already had a glow about him!

Next day it was off to the Ukrainian aviation museum. After a false start with the bus system we piled into a taxi.

Lots of fine examples of Soviet era aircraft. I will put together an album and post the link later here and in General Aviation. But here are a few samples.

Business first on the IL62

True economy class, bring your own damn seat!

RJdxer and Nighthawk prepare for departure.

Zruda makes her truimphant arrival into Kiev. Security was holding back the throngs of adoring fans...

One for UH60....

The Mig 25...

One of my all time favorites, the TU-55 Bear. One badass bomber.

And one of the ugliest I have ever seen...

Then it was off to Chernobyl museum. We didn't buy a picture permit so no pics from inside but it was very interesting.

Later than night it was back to the hydropark where we were treated to a fire works display during dinner.

And then Zruda learned a little Scottish!

The next day, newly found Scottish comment in hand, Zruda headed back to PRG leaving us almost totally language deficient.

And the following day, I was off to one day hop it from KBP to IAH.

A few things I learned in Kiev.

1. Ukrainians don't know how to do the Macarena.
2. Disco lives in the Ukraine.
3. The toliet is everywhere in the Ukraine
4. Skank clothing is in style, and thank God for it, in the Ukraine.
5. If you want to have a really good vacation and not spend a lot of money, head for Kiev.

A few things I will always remember about my first trip to Kiev.

1. If it looks military, don't take a picture of it.
2. Face control is not what it sounds like.
3. Hearing Gloria Gainers "I will survive" in Ukrainian. I instantly thought of STLGph.
4. Seeing the military museum at the victory monument and thinking about how delighted ANCflyer would be to walk through it and say, that one blows up real good. That one just sits there and smokes after getting popped. Oh
man, that one really goes boom!
5. Learning that there is a Scottlandia!

A real shame we couldn't get to Chernobyl but the groundwork has been laid for a successful attempt next year. Between the agency Zruda found and the friend Nighthawk and JRadier made in Kiev I'm sure we'll get out there. Start making your plans to join us now!

Quoting Zruda (Thread starter):I don't know which number Dan called or what he tried to do about the Chernobyl trip, but I found one number at the web, we called it from Ukraine on Thursday and we got answered, even in English! The trouble is that the agency needs to get you some permit which takes time, so they were unable to organize tour for us in a weeks time.

So we say: lets go next time! This time we can make it a short over-weekend stay with one day trip to Chernobyl!

Darn it! I tried several numbers from agencies operating tours there and just got no responses at all - same with email Still, even though you didn't manage to get to Chernobyl itself I wish I was there with you, as planned, because the trip looked great - especially the aviation museum! Although I am glad I decided not to travel as things here have been more hectic than I could have expected.

I couldn't look myself in the mirror if I had the chance to go see Chernobyl and didn't make the attempt. I went into this meet with only one expectation and although it wasn't fulfilled, a lot of things happened that I didn't expect yet completely enjoyed. The only rotten thing out of the whole deal is that I was so focused on getting on the Air France flight Monday morning I completely forgot to change my money. The only exchange booth on the gate side of security at CDG was closed for no reason (go figure, it's France), the EWR money exchange wouldn't touch it, and I can't find any money exchange place here in Houston that will take it. So I guess I will hold on to it and that will be my stake money on arrival next year!

Does he ever work? I swear he's at every A.net Meet.... I'm guessing someone's got a bunch of swaps to pay for in the near future. I guess by the time he works them off, it'll be time for the next LAS Meet.

Ukraine and Kyiv are just the best but let's not teell too many people or it will be ruined. I thought trying to arrange a tour before arrival will be impossible and so it was, tourism doesn't really operate there yet.

Quoting RJdxer (Reply 5):4. Skank clothing is in style, and thank God for it, in the Ukraine.

Quoting Srbmod (Reply 10):I'm guessing someone's got a bunch of swaps to pay for in the near future.

Nah, I don't like being in debt. The two days off I took were days "owed" me on trades by others! The rest were normal days off and this entire week I'm on vacation. I'm actually thinking about jumping on the bike tomorrow and riding up to Tennessee to see some friends, UH60 included if I can get a hold of him.

Don't know how I overlooked these:

I can just see Pep now going, "yeah that turret will pop just like a champagne cork if you hit the ring here just so!"

Sunday is evidently wedding day in the Ukraine. We must have seen at least 20 or more of them. The monastery was pumping them out like a Vegas wedding chapel. Outside on the street we got to see these beauties!

Guess I'll have to find out next year . All the extra hours of work and finishing projects before I left wore me down and I did not give myself a chance to recharge before leaving. Sunday it really started to affect me so I decided to skip Odessa and Yalta and come on home. Good choice as over the Atlantic I picked up the chills and am still not quite right.

One thing DYflyer and I discussed and you can see some detail in the photos of is how a lot of these aircrafts skins look like they were made by a tin smith banging them out with a hammer over a wooden form. The skin is quite thick and for all the world looks like it has hammer impressions on it. Not your typical stress deformations.

Wouldn't it be fun to run it up to breakaway power in the no wake zone! At about 5AM? Seriously though, I thought I heard a news report last week that the Chinese were working on this design.

After going thru my pictures again I found a detail I had missed and one with a question still unanswered.

1. Taken in the IL62 cockpit by the navigators desk. When did Airbus get into IL62 production?

2. Taken on the 26 with the UN colors, what sort of helicopter needs foot straps on the rudder pedals? What sort of manuvering would it be doing that the g forces would be so high as to not allow the pilot to keep his feet on the pedals?

And I do love the painted instrument panel!

I leave this afternoon for the Cape in Florida. I've always wanted to watch a shuttle launch and the opportunity has arrived! Even though I am not feeling 100%, my "want" section of my brain will not leave me alone.

Wonderful pictures folks! (bigthumbsup}
Looks like you all had a great time.
I love those Soviet aircraft. I was on one of those Aeroflot TU154s last summer. Those have to be the best sounding engines ever!